Gnosticism?

Question

What does the term mean? How did Gnosticism affect the Christian understanding of the nature of God and Jesus?

Answer 1

What is gnosticism:

http://www.reference.com/search?q=gnosticism

(Briefly, gnosticism comes from the Greek gnosis meaning knowledge; gnostics thought that they possessed a secret knowledge which allowed them a much higher spiritual position than that of the others, usually thought of as captives of the material world. )

Gnosticism had a flourishing in the second to fourth century, in a variety of sects. These sects introduced in their teachings elements of Christianity, as well as other religions of the times; we call this sincretism (a melting pot). Because gnostics used truncated and altered fragments of Christian doctrine in their religious melting pot, they were targeted intensively by a great number of orthodox writers as heretics. About heresy: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Heresy About orthodoxy (low case o): http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodoxy

Because of this literary war with the heretics (not exclusively gnostics), Christian writers (the Fathers of the Church) and representatives of the Church (in the Ecumenical Councils) were forced to express the Faith in a discursive form along with the rejection of heresies. The Councils were especially necessary in order to make sure this discursive form was describing correctly, as far as it is possible in a rational discourse, the Faith as previously received and experienced in the Church. About the Councils: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Ecumenical_councils

Answer 2

Gnosticism is a philosophical and religious movement which started in pre-Christian times. The name is derived from the Greek word "gnosis" which literally means "knowledge." However, the English words "Insight" and "enlightenment" capture more of the meaning of "gnosis." It is pronounced with a silent "G" (NO-sis). Gnosticism is not factual, intellectual, rational knowledge, such as is involved in mathematics and physics; that would have been more accurately represented by the Greek world "episteme." Rather, Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us.

Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity, and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity:

Novel beliefs about Gods, the Bible and the world which differed from those of other Christian groups.

Tolerance of different religious beliefs within and outside of Gnosticism.

Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations.

A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge. In the words of The contemporary Gnostic Apostolic Church, humanity needs to be awakened and brought "to a realisation of his true nature. Mankind is moving towards the Omega Point, the Great day when all must graduate or fall. This day is also the Day of Judgment in that only those who have entered the Path of Transfiguration and are being reborn can return to the Treasury of Light."

Answer 3

Gnostic means 'hidden' or 'to be revealed.' Gnostic sects of Christianity believe that God can only be understood through a personal mystical experience.

Gnostic ideas influenced the idea of Trinity - that God cannot be comprehended logically.

Answer 4

Shalom,

The term Gnostic means one who possesses inner knowledge from within. Gnosticism is how Christianity really was before Roman Emperor Constantine and other rulers decided to use Christianity as a footstool(a government tool) to stay in power and gain more power. They picked certain scriptures and modified them here and there to fit their agenda and those that couldn't be corrupted because they were purely gnostic were thrown away.

During this era there were spiritual Christians and gnostics who refused to follow the paganistic religion Constantine and his followers created. They were hunted down and murdered. So some who were in communication with them took their uncorrupted scriptures and hide them away. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi, this is just to name a few.

The difference between Christianity and Gnostic and spiritual Christianity is that they were genuine disciples of Yeshua. Who followed his teachings which lead to the completion of the soul so that we can escape this realm and return home to the edenic kingdom that is within us. They understood the scriptures true purpose which was a allegoric portrayal of the inner workings of ones own mind. And they understood when the scriptures were utilized properly that it becomes the keys of knowledge that allows one to gain access to the true prophet within. This is why Yeshua proclaimed he wasn't a teacher nor master because the true teacher is within you. There was no professing of the lips that you believe. But a total changing and unloosing of the mind so you could began to manifest the inner kingdom within you. Things like astrology, numerology and these scriptures became outlawed and were studied in secret by true followers of Yeshua's path.

Before the corruption of Christianity they scriptures spoke of the transmigration of the soul or reincarnation of it. And over the course of many lifetimes it would evolve to completion from alpha the state of unknowing to omega absolute knowing. These concepts were quickly disposed of by pagan Rome because it not only showed the power to enter into the kingdom of God was in mankinds hand but it also would have thrown them out of power. Because the people during that era would have known that there was no heaven in the sky or a fiery hell in the ground. And that these rulers were trying to keep them shackled to this world by virtue of ignorance, because they themselves were ignorant.

So there you have it, the Christianity today is the corruption of elementary based doctrine given to the gentiles for repentance or to save them from the lifestyle and mindset of this world. Or this is to say a doctrine to initiate change to understand the deeper mysteries of the scriptures. Man in his paganistic ways would rather worship every image under the sun than to turn within himself to find knowledge and life. Its the winners who write history whether good or evil and in this case evil rewrote history. Such is life.

Peace

Aza

Answer 5

it means "hidden knowledge", it was a believed that they were pagans who then "hijacked" the christian religion to gain followers since christianity was becoming so popular in the 1, 2, and 3rd centuries, yet they were exposed to be heretics and had few members> they teach that salvation comes through "Knowledge" of how to attain "divinity" instead of through the blood of Jesus christ> they even wrote "gospels" 200 years after christ, such as the gospel of thomas, mary magdalene, and peter> the 4 true gospels were written within 50 years of jesus' death by his followers>

Answer 6

Knowledge and experienced based religion... instead of faith in the Word alone.

Gnosticism does away with faith....and puts trust in man and his ideas instead.